About This Book
This chapter book follows twelve-year-old Neva as she spends a pivotal summer with her grandparents. She faces a whirlwind of changes, from her own body's development to shifts in her relationships with her older brother, who becomes involved in social activism, and her best friend, Jamila, whose family background adds to the multicultural tapestry of their community. Neva struggles to find the right words to describe her evolving identity and experiences, making this a thoughtful read for children aged 9-13 who are navigating their own growth and questioning the world around them.
Twelve-year-old Neva and her older brother Clayton have been left with their grandparents for the summer, and she is having a difficult time dealing with change: the changes to her body, changes with her relationships with her brother who is becoming involved with social activism and their multicultural community (and with Michelle, the sexy girl across the street), and with her best friend, Jamila, whose father is from Ghana--Neva is growing up and she is not sure that the dictionary has the right words to describe everything she is experiencing.
Discussion Prompts
1
Neva feels like the dictionary doesn't have the right words for her experiences. What feelings or changes have you experienced that are hard to put into words?
2
How does Neva's relationship with her brother, Clayton, change throughout the summer? How do they support or challenge each other?
3
Clayton gets involved in social activism. What does that mean, and why do you think it's important to stand up for what you believe in?
4
Neva is dealing with changes to her body. What are some ways we can be kind to ourselves and others as we grow and change?
5
How does Neva's friendship with Jamila evolve? What makes a good friend, especially when things are changing?
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